Libya: At least 30 people were killed in car bomb explosions targeting a petrol station and a security building in Qubbah. (Reuters)

Nigeria: Local officials reported that Boko Haram released 158 women and children abducted from a village in Yobe State. (Xinhua)

South Sudan: UNSG Ban Ki-moon said he is asking his office to explore ways that perpetrators of human rights abuses in the country can begin to be held accountable. (AP)

AMERICAS

Colombia: A judge said there was not enough evidence to keep an American missionary jailed after he was arrested over suspected links to FARC leftist guerrillas. (AFP)

Mexico: At least 200 students attacked the headquarters of an army unit in Chilpancingo to protest the disappearance of 43 of their classmates in September. (EFE)

Venezuela: Intelligence service agents arrested the mayor of Caracas Antonio Ledezma over what President Maduro alleges was a coup plot financed by the US. (AFP)

Venezuela: President Maduro said that he had visited Cuba and met retired leader Fidel Castro for talks focused on global issues. (AFP)

ASIA

Region: Pakistani Interior Minister Khan said that relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have never been better in a meeting with US Secretary Kerry. (AFP)

Indonesia: Authorities delayed the execution of two Australian drug smugglers by up to a month. (AFP)

Philippines: MILF rebels said they acted purely in “self-defense” in a clash that killed 44 police commandos despite police claims that they were ambushed. (AFP)

Thailand: Rights groups expressed concern over a bill passed by the junta-picked parliament that could allow the military to detain civilians for up to 84 days without charge. (AFP)

Thailand: Police said suspected insurgents detonated a car bomb that wounded 13 people and damaged buildings in Narathiwat province. (AP)

EUROPE

France: Interior Minister Cazeneuve traveled to Silicon Valley to discuss his government’s concerns about violent jihadist social media messaging with leading tech and internet companies. (Reuters)

Germany: Officials said that Chancellor Merkel will visit Japan early next month for the first time in seven years for a summit with PM Shinzo Abe. (AFP)

Greece: The government said the country has made every effort to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with its euro zone partners but will not be pushed to implement its old bailout program. (Reuters)

MIDDLE EAST

Iraq: US military officials said the US wants the country to launch its offensive to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group in April or May. (AFP)

Syria: UNSG Ban Ki-moon called for urgent action to lift sieges on civilians and to end barrel bomb attacks. (AFP)